9th Historic Dalma Race Festival to take place in Abu Dhabi

Under the patronage of Sheikh Hamdan bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Ruler’s Representative in the Al Dhafra Region, the ninth edition of the Dalma Historic Race Festival will take place from 30 October to 15 November 2026 on Dalma Island in Al Dhafra Region. The festival is organised by the Abu Dhabi Heritage Authority, Abu Dhabi Sports Council and Abu Dhabi Marine Sports Club.

The festival will welcome visitors every Friday, Saturday, and Sunday from 6 to 15 November, while competitors will participate from 30 October until 15 November.

The festival will feature a diverse programme of marine races, sporting competitions and community activities. The highlight is the Dalma Historic Long-Distance Sailing Dhow Race for 60-foot dhows, the longest traditional marine race in the region, covering approximately 68 nautical miles (125 kilometres), with a total prize purse of up to AED30 million.

The race will start from Dalma Island and pass several historically significant natural islands, including Sir Bani Yas Island, Ghasha Island, Umm Al Kurkum Island, Al Fatayer Island, Al Bazm Island, Al Fiayi Island, Marawah Island and, finally, Janana Island, before finishing at Al Mugheirah Beach, making it the longest traditional marine race in the Arabian Gulf.

The festival will also feature the Dalma Traditional Rowing Boat Race for 40-foot boats, offering a total prize purse of AED2.4 million, alongside the Dalma Shaari Fishing Championship.

The festival will feature a range of sporting competitions, including cycling, swimming and running races, as well as padel tournaments, women’s badminton, beach football, beach volleyball and a falconry championship.

The festival will also host creative competitions, including the Best Photograph of Dalma and Best Video of Dalma, alongside daily competitions and prizes at the main stage as part of its interactive programme. Other activities will include carrom and domino tournaments for men and women, a traditional cooking competition and a best dessert competition.

Visitors will be able to explore a heritage village and a traditional market featuring stalls selling heritage products, traditional handicrafts and Emirati cuisine. The Children’s Village will offer educational and recreational activities and interactive competitions, giving young visitors an opportunity to discover various aspects of Emirati heritage.

Sheikh Mohammed bin Sultan bin Khalifa Al Nahyan, President of the UAE Marine Sports Federation and Chairman of Abu Dhabi Marine Sports Club, emphasised that the launch of the ninth edition of the Dalma Sailing Dhow Race represents a continuation of efforts to preserve the UAE’s maritime heritage and reflects the central role of the sea in the nation’s history and national identity.

He noted that the race has become a significant heritage and community event that brings generations together and strengthens their connection to the legacy of their ancestors.

Sheikh Mohammed bin Sultan bin Khalifa Al Nahyan said: “The Dalma Race goes beyond sporting competition to tell the story of the Emirati people’s enduring relationship with the sea and the values of determination, patience and cooperation associated with it. We believe that the sustainability of heritage begins with engaging younger generations in its practice and passing on its knowledge and skills, ensuring that it remains a living and evolving legacy deeply rooted in the community.”

He added that Abu Dhabi Marine Sports Club continues to fulfil its role in preserving and developing traditional marine sports, encouraging greater participation among young people and juniors, and strengthening the community dimension of these events.

He emphasised that the Dalma Race reaching its ninth edition reflects its success in combining authenticity with innovation.

Sheikh Mohammed expressed his gratitude and appreciation to the Abu Dhabi Heritage Authority and Abu Dhabi Sports Council for their continued support and cooperation in ensuring the success of the event.

He emphasised that the combined efforts of all partners are essential to sustaining traditional marine sports and reinforcing Abu Dhabi’s position as a leading destination for sporting and heritage events.

His Excellency Abdullah Mubarak Al Muhairi, Chairman of the Abu Dhabi Heritage Authority, expressed his gratitude and appreciation to the UAE’s wise leadership for its unwavering support of heritage festivals and programmes that contribute to preserving Emirati heritage and strengthening its presence within society.

His Excellency also praised the patronage of Sheikh Hamdan bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Ruler’s Representative in the Al Dhafra Region, describing it as a cornerstone of the Dalma Historic Race Festival’s continued development and the expansion of its activities.

His Excellency highlighted the importance of preserving traditional marine sports and encouraging younger generations to practise them, noting that reviving traditional marine races also brings to life the historic maritime routes that once connected the islands and the mainland through trade and travel and have since become part of the nation’s collective memory.

His Excellency said that the ninth edition of the festival reflects the authority’s ongoing commitment to safeguarding the UAE’s maritime heritage, strengthening its presence within the community and passing its knowledge and skills on to future generations, in line with its objectives of ensuring the sustainability of national heritage and expanding community participation in heritage activities.

His Excellency commended the partnership with Abu Dhabi Sports Council and Abu Dhabi Marine Sports Club in organising the festival, as well as the support provided by sponsors, partners and supporting entities.

His Excellency emphasised that the integration of efforts among these organisations establishes a strong model for collaboration in delivering major events, enhances the experience offered to participants and visitors, and supports the authority’s objectives of preserving Emirati cultural heritage and promoting it locally and among visitors to the emirate.

His Excellency added that the authority views the Dalma Historic Race Festival as a platform that brings together marine competitions, heritage programmes and community activities.

The festival’s heritage activities and programmes offer visitors firsthand insights into traditional maritime life and create opportunities for knowledge exchange between generations. Meanwhile, the diversity of sporting competitions helps broaden participation and attract different age groups.

His Excellency explained that Dalma Island was selected to host the festival because of its historical significance within the heritage of the UAE’s islands.

His Excellency noted that scheduling activities over weekends aims to encourage wider participation among residents and visitors while supporting tourism and economic activity on the island.

His Excellency Aref Hamad Al Awani, Secretary General of Abu Dhabi Sports Council, expressed his deepest gratitude and appreciation to the UAE’s wise leadership for its unwavering support of traditional sports and commitment to preserving the nation’s authentic heritage.

His Excellency praised the patronage of Sheikh Hamdan bin Zayed Al Nahyan for the ninth edition of the Dalma Historic Race Festival and His Highness’s continued support for an event that has achieved successive successes and strengthened its standing among the region’s most prominent heritage festivals.

His Excellency Al Awani said: “Under the directives of Sheikh Nahyan bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Chairman of Abu Dhabi Sports Council, we remain committed to further developing the Dalma Historic Race Festival and providing all the resources necessary to ensure the success of its ninth edition, in cooperation and coordination with our partners from the public and private sectors. This will help sustain the festival’s achievements and enhance its role in showcasing the UAE’s rich maritime heritage.

“The ninth edition of the festival builds on Abu Dhabi Sports Council’s ongoing efforts to support sporting and heritage events that combine athletic competition with the preservation of national identity. These events contribute to strengthening Abu Dhabi’s position on the international map of major heritage events, particularly the Dalma Historic Race, which is the longest race for 60-foot sailing dhows and offers the largest total prize purse in the history of traditional marine racing. This reflects the event’s exceptional standing and its importance in reviving the UAE’s maritime heritage.”

The Dalma Historic Race Festival aims to preserve the UAE’s maritime heritage, strengthen community connections to cultural traditions, and highlight the historical significance of the UAE’s islands and their role in economic and social life, and seeks to support productive families and artisans, stimulate commercial activity on Dalma Island, revive traditional marine sports and enhance the island’s appeal as a tourism destination.